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The hosts highlighted the book as the sequel to a previous Harlem novel, set in early‑1970s Harlem and following Ray Carney as he returns to crime to secure concert tickets for his daughter. Terry Gross and guest David Bianculli described it as an entertaining crime story that spans small‑time crooks to revolutionaries and noted its recent paperback release. The discussion emphasized its engaging plot and place in Whitehead’s projected Harlem trilogy.
Episode: Colson Whitehead returns to 1970s NYC in 'Crook Ma...
The novel was noted as the sequel to Harlem Shuffle, set in 1970s Harlem and had just been released in paperback. It follows Ray Carney as he is drawn back into crime to obtain concert tickets for his daughter.
It was published last summer and came out in paperback this week.
Crook Manifesto brings back the main character, Ray Carney, the owner of a furniture store on 125th Street in Harlem, who takes pride in upgrading his customers' living rooms with comfortable quality sofas and recliners.
In the opening of Crook Manifesto, he's been retired from crime for four years, but when his daughter insists she needs tickets to the Jackson 5 concert, he goes to a corrupt white cop to get them, which forces him to fence jewels.
Crook Manifesto is the second in Whitehead's projected trilogy of Harlem novels; the first, Harlem Shuffle, was set in the 60s and the third will be set in the 80s.
His latest novel Crook Manifesto has just been published in paperback.
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Whitehead's latest crime novel was highlighted as an entertaining paperback release about Harlembased crime.
His most recent, Crook Manifesto, is an entertaining read about crime at every level, from smalltime crooks to revolutionaries, cops, politicians, and Harlem's elite. It's now out in paperback.
Episode: Best Of: Writers Colson Whitehead / S.A. Cosby
The host described Crook Manifesto as an entertaining crime novel set in Harlem during the early 1970s, a sequel to Harlem Shuffle. Later the interview highlighted it as Whitehead's new book and read a passage from it.
His new one, Crook Manifesto, is an entertaining read about crime at every level, from small-time crooks to revolutionaries, cops, politicians, and Harlem's elite.
The new novel, Crook Manifesto, takes place from 1971 to 76.
That's Colson Whitehead reading from his new novel Crook Manifesto.
His new book Crook Manifesto is a crime novel set in Harlem in the 70s. It's a sequel to his novel Harlem Shuffle, which was set in the 60s.
Colson Whitehead's new novel is Crook Manifesto.
Episode: Colson Whitehead On 'Crook Manifesto'
The new sequel to Harlem Shuffle was presented as taking place from 1971 to 1976, following Ray Carney's return to crime after a retirement.
The new novel, Crook Manifesto, takes place from 1971 to 76.
That's Colson Whitehead reading from his new novel, Crook Manifesto.
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The segment described Whitehead's new novel Crook Manifesto as an entertaining read about crime at every level.
His new one, Crook Manifesto, is an entertaining read about crime at every level, from smalltime crooks to revolutionaries, cops, politicians, and Harlem's elite.